Top candidates for the next mayor of Memphis made their final pitch to the public before early voting starts at a forum hosted Thursday night at the University of Memphis’ Michael D. Rose Theatre. They fielded questions about crime, infrastructure and the rapidly diversifying city that is Memphis.
The forum, held before a live audience and aired and streamed live, was hosted by The Commercial Appeal, Action News 5 and The League of Women Voters of Memphis-Shelby County.
Early voting begins Sept. 15 and runs through Sept. 30. Election Day itself is Oct. 5 and will include both the mayoral race and Memphis City Council races.
Candidates invited to the stage Thursday were asked to meet three of four criteria: Previously having held elected office, reaching a fundraising threshold of at least $350,000, having a staffed campaign headquarters and public access to the candidate through a website or social media.
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Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner, State Rep. Karen Camper, businessman JW Gibson, Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board Member Michelle McKissack, Downtown Memphis Commission President Paul Young and former Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner participated.
Candidates pledge changes in MLGW to make electricity reliable
Several candidates promised a full review of Memphis Light, Gas and Water if elected mayor, saying that a review would be the first step toward reforming an organization that experiences blackouts whenever the weather turns sour.
Bonner said the city mayor, who currently appoints both the MLGW CEO and board, pending approval of the Memphis City Council, should have more authority over the utility, including directly overseeing the MLGW CEO.
Camper was the first to suggest a full internal review of the utility, also saying the utility should invest in solar and other clean energies as well as burying power lines.
Gibson hinted at the need for new leadership, saying, “We need people who really understand the utility industry so we can properly prepare for our future.”
Oversight of MLGW is key, said McKissack, pointing out that the utility is three years into a five-year plan of improvement and yet is far behind on things like tree trimming. People on the board must know about power companies, she said, and a greater emphasis should be placed on obtaining and using state and federal dollars.
McKissack and Turner both supported an evaluation of MLGW, with Turner echoing Camper in saying solar and other alternative energy supplies are needed.
Of all the candidates, Young was the most hopeful for MLGW under its current leadership, saying he recently spoke with President Doug McGowen, who began the role in December.
MLGW needs time to implement its plan, Young said, including the creation of a smart grid system and looking at where it makes sense to bury power lines or switch from wooden to steel poles.
Candidates discuss capitalizing on Memphis’ status as largest Black city
Lightning rounds requiring one-word answers or the raise of a hand to indicate yes provided some interesting answers from candidates.
When asked which candidate on stage they would consider appointing to their administration, three candidates — Bonner, McKissack and Young — pointed to Camper. Two, Gibson and Turner, named McKissack, and one candidate, Camper, named Young.
Asked which Memphis neighborhood needs the most investment or focus now, Young said North Memphis while Turner said Boxtown, McKissack said Westwood, Gibson and Camper said South Memphis and Bonner said Orange Mound.
Candidates seized on the opportunity to address Memphis’ recent naming as the largest Black city in the United States, with Turner saying the city could become a “Black Mecca” like Atlanta if city dollars are spent on Black businesses, building up a Black middle class.
“If we do so, we’ll see the new Memphis,” Turner said. “We’ll see Memphis become a Mecca.”
Young said there’s “no other city in this country that has the same culture and the vibe and the energy we have in Memphis” and that “diversity is our superpower.” If elected, he’d work with the business sector to build wealth among Black businesses and lean into the city’s culture of creativity, he said.
Bonner spoke about his wife’s role as a small business owner, saying the city must “share that vision” as the Black community grows into middle and upper middle class.
“I think we can be an example of the South,” Bonner said.
Camper added that the mayor must collaborate and build alliances so even the smallest businesses can participate in getting city contracts. Retirement funds are also a way “to build wealth for families,” she said.
Gibson spoke of his own three businesses.
“I believe I truly do have an opportunity to see somewhat of a model to African Americans who are coming up behind the show that they have the opportunity to dream of hope and create that type of future for themselves. Memphis will survive and thrive on the majority of the population,” Gibson said.
And McKissack said that she wants more certification programs in high school and more support for young adults, offering a pathway out of poverty and to the ability to support their families.
“Here in Memphis with 40% of our children living in poverty, being the largest majority Black city now in the country, we have to address that: Poverty,” she said.
Transit, Blue Oval questions
Transit was also a predominant topic in the forum, with all candidates during a lightning round promising that they’d seek to make the Memphis Area Transit Authority a 24-hour service.
With the looming arrival of BlueOval City just outside Memphis, the candidates described the importance of good transit to get Memphians to the estimated 6,000 new jobs.
Bonner said a shuttle bus is the answer to transporting workers to Blue Oval City, while Turner said the city must move toward light rail.
Young, McKissack and Camper also supported the idea of a shuttle service, with McKissack saying she wants to see the development of a regional transit system for all of West Tennessee.
Gibson said if elected, he would commit to providing more funding to MATA “to ensure that our employees get back and forth to the workplace.”
Camper pointed to how she previously obtained funding from the state for a comprehensive study of transit in the region “to make sure that everyone in Memphis who wants to go and work there can get there.”
Katherine Burgess covers government and religion. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.